Light flashing wheeled figure toy



Dec.'31, 1957 D. m DE CICCO 2,817,926

LIGHT FLASHING WHEELED FIGURE TOY 3 Sheets-Sheet .1

Filed Aug. 6, 1954 FIG 4 00mm; M.D|-: clcc o. INVENTOR.

V fizzy-061ml ATTY.

Dec. 31, 1957 D. M. DE CICCO LIGHT FLASHING WHEELED FIGURE TOY 3 Sheets-Sheet 2,

Filed Aug. .6, 1954 pbmmc M.DE clcco.

INVENTOR.

Dec. 31, 1957 D. M. DE clcco 2,817,926

LIGHT FLASHING WHEELED FIGURE TOY Filed Aug. 6, 1954 s sheets-sheets Dommc M. DE CICGO.

INVENTOR.

Viz/95M ATTY.

United States Patent LIGHT FLASHING WHEELED. FIGURE TOY Dominic M. De Cicco, Syracuse, N. Y.

Application August 6, 195.4, SerialNo. 448,184.

1 Claim. (Cl. 46-230) This invention relates to improvements in toys and more particularly to an illuminated figure resembling in operation the well-known lightning bug.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a figure toy including a light source which can be intermittently flashed to simulate the functioning of a real lightning bug.

Another object of the invention is to provide a light flashing figure toy of the character stated which is of very simple construction and capable of being manufactured and retailed at a low monetary figure.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a toy of the character stated which will be durable and substantially foolproof in operation.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a toy of the character stated which will be highly amusing both to juveniles and adults.

These and various other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to the reader of the following description.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a perspective view of the toy.

Figure 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view taken on line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a cross-section taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a cross-section taken on line 44 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a section taken on line 55 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a bottom plan view of the toy.

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals designate like parts, it can be seen that numeral 10 denotes a body portion of circular cross-section and this body may be of wood which can be easily turned on a lathe, but of course it can be of plastic or in fact any other desired material. This body 10 is formed with a substantially globular head 11 and this head and body portion have an elongated bore 12 extending from the front of the head 11 through the rear end of the body 10, as is clearly shown in Figure 2.

The head 11 is internally threaded as at 13 to receive the threaded portion 14 of a plug 15, which is screwed against a compression spring 16, this spring 16 in turn pressing against a battery 17, which in turn exerts force against a second battery 18, the center electrode of which engages the center contact 19 of an electric bulb 20, this bulb 20 having the usual thread formed shell 21.

An annulus 22 having openings therein is secured to the rear end of the body 10 by nails or the like 23 which are disposed through the openings of the annulus 22 and driven into the body 10. The annulus 22 carries a conductor shell or socket 24 for receiving the portion 21 of the bulb 20.

One of the nails 23 besides passing through the annulus 22, also passes through one end of a conductor strip 25, this strip thus making contact with the annulus 22. This strip 25 extends along the bottom of the body 10 and 2,817,926 Patented Dec. 31, 1957 o c o ma ne c ntact-finge 2.6- A screw 27 extends through the forward end of the conductor strip 25 and the finger-26 and is driven into the lower portion of thebody, 1 0.

Extending upwardlythroughthe forward portion of the body 10 is an open'ng 28. Thpough the lower portion of theforward part of the body. 10 is disposed a shaft 29. This shaft ext nds; through theopening 28, andis provided h a 1. s. 30 which serves. a a a a ting. against the p r y h nt n -Jin 3. o e contac fi ger 2.6. As ca be seen, this portion 31 of the finger 26 normally rides the shaft 29, but when the cam 30 engages the same, the portion 31 of the fingers raise to contact the outer metallic side of the battery 17.

The outer ends of the shaft 29 are equipped with wheels 32 which rotate as the toy is pulled and in turn rotate the shaft 29 so that the cam 30 is operated against the contact finger 26.

The rear end of the body 10 is slightly reduced to permit the slipping over of the open end of a conical shaped tail 33, which is of translucent plastic or some other similar and preferably a non-breakable material. The translucent tail 33 is secured to the rear end of the body 10 by screws or the like 34.

For ornamental purposes, the body 10 is provided with outstanding wings 35 and antennae represented by a pair of upwardly and forwardly directed springs, projecting from the head 11 and provided with enlargements or knobs 37 at their forward ends. Of course these antennae will vibrate as the toy is being pulled by a string 38 which may be attached by staple or the like 39 to the underside of the head 11, as shown in Figure 2.

Certain features such as markings representing eyes 40 and a mouth 41 may be added to the head 11, as shown in Figure 1.

As is shown in Figure 4 the wings 35 may be attached to the head 11 by dowel pins 42.

It can now be seen, that in the operation of the toy, it is pulled along a surface 43, such as the floor of a room or the sidewalk of a street. As the toy is pulled, the wheels 32 rotate the axle or shaft 29 and the cam 30, carried by the rotating shaft 29 wipes against the portion 31 of the contact finger 26, lifting the same and engaging it with the battery 17. This closes the circuit, current passing from the battery 18 by way of a center electrode to the center contact 19 of the lamp 20, through its filament (not shown) to its thread formed shell 21 and from there to the socket 24. The current then passes to the annulus 22 and from there by way of the conductor strip 25 to the contact 26 and from there to the shell of the battery 17, through the battery to its center electrode and from thence by way of the battery 18, that is through its shell and center electrode to the lamp 20.

Thus, each time the conductor 26 engages the shell of the battery 17 the light 20 is energized and this intermittent action of the lamp gives the illusion of the lighting effects of a real lightning bug.

While the foregoing description sets forth the invention in specific terms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, size and materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Having described the invention what is claimed as new is:

An amusement device comprising a body simulating a real lightning-bug including an elongated member having an axially formed opening therein and a translucent hollow tail portion projecting from one end thereof, a bulb socket mounted within the tail portion of the elongated member, a bulb disposed in the socket, a battery of the type having a center electrode and a metallic shell, said battery disposed inthe axial-opening of the elongated member and having its electrode contacting the usual center contact of the bulb, said elongated member being formed with an elongated channel in the bottom portion thereof, said elongated member being formed with an opening extending from the bottom of the elongated element to the axial opening, a shaft disposed through the opening meeting the axial opening and provided with a lateral projection, the ends of the shaft being disposed through the sides of the elongated element, wheels provided on the outer ends of the shaft, a flexible contact element secured within the channel and having its free end in the path of the projection, said projection being adapted to move the free end of the contact element References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 163,551 Seyfarth June 5, 1951 1,247,126 Maisel Nov. 20, 1917 1,717,141 Brubaker June 11, 1929 1,773,834 Wilson Aug. 26, 1930 2,036,328 Furey Apr. 7, 1936 2,098,166 Rubenstein Nov. 2, 1937 2,599,208 Starr June 2, 1952 

